It seems to never end and the message from the government that is supposed to be protecting us is the same. “Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.”

Middle eastern men looking to buy guns, cell phones, guns…. This time shrapnel bomb materials… Is no one in government, law enforcement, the DHS suspicious of this activity? Apparently not.

417 News.com:KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMBC) —A recent purchase of a large amount of sling shot ammo, similar to BB pellets, and a large amount of replacement box cutter blades at a Lee’s Summit, Mo. Walmart, has triggered the attention of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and federal authorities.

A law enforcement official described the individual as a “middle eastern looking man” to KMBC 9 News’ Mike Mahoney.

The cash purchases were made late at night during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, authorities told Mahoney.

A law enforcement official told Mahoney that the items could be elements used for a shrapnel bomb. They also have common every-day uses.

No arrests have been made as no laws have been broken. But this incident comes just weeks after reports of bulk purchases of pre-paid inexpensive cell phones, known as “burners,” at Walmarts in central and eastern Missouri.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says they have alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the situation. A federal spokesman tells KMBC that they are aware of the case.

Shrapnel bombs are commonly used by terrorists. Here’s a description of what could possibly be an issue here in Missouri:

The shrapnel bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon have a long and bloody history.

Shrapnel is a general term used to describe the fragments thrown off by a bomb or other explosive device. Usually comprised of nails, ball bearings, needles or other small metal objects, these shards are the leading cause of death and injury following the explosion of a shrapnel bomb.

In the 1780s, a British lieutenant named Henry Shrapnel developed a long-range artillery shell, packed with lead shot, that used a delayed-action fuse. Shrapnel’s shell was designed to explode near or above the heads of enemy soldiers, causing widespread death and injury, according to Wired. [History of Human Aggression: 10 Ways Combat Has Evolved]

After the device helped the British secure victory over Napoleon’s troopsat the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Shrapnel was recognized as a national hero.

Today, bombs containing shrapnel are one of the favorite weapons used by terrorists, suicide bombers and other militants, since they can be cheaply constructed, easily hidden and can spread panic and bloodshed over a wide area.

There are dozens of variations of the shrapnel bomb, but most follow the basic design of a pipe bomb: a hollow section of steel pipe capped at both ends; a low-grade explosive element (either gunpowder or some chemical compound) attached to a fuse; and metal shrapnel packed inside the hollow pipe.

When the low-grade explosion occurs, the pressure inside the steel pipe amplifies the explosive force, creating a much more powerful blast than would be achieved without the steel outer shell.

According to the Associated Press, the bombs used at the Boston Marathon contained gunpowder, small nails and metal ball bearings housed inside pressure cookers (kitchen pots with lockable lids that create a high-pressure environment not unlike a pipe bomb).

Shrapnel bombs containing steel ball bearings from 1/10 to 1/4 inch (3 to 7 millimeters) in diameter deliver the most lethal impact, according to medical experts, effectively spraying an area with thousands of small, bulletlike projectiles.

More at LIVESCIENCE.COM

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